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Assignees
MemberSafeTracesSafeTracesSafeTraces provides technology-driven solutions for indoor air quality validation, biosafety, and supply chain traceability. The company specializes in aerosol tracing, DNA-based product tagging, rapid qPCR detection, and cloud-based analytics. Clients span healthcare, infrastructure, real estate, food, and government sectors, supporting regulatory compliance, operational safety, and risk management.
SafeTraces provides technology-driven solutions for indoor air quality validation, biosafety, and supply chain traceability. The company specializes in aerosol tracing, DNA-based product tagging, rapid qPCR detection, and cloud-based analytics. Clients span healthcare, infrastructure, real estate, food, and government sectors, supporting regulatory compliance, operational safety, and risk management.
Publication Number
US-11699045-B2
Publication Date
2023-07-11
Expiration Date
Abstract
Material in a supply chain is tracked by a method of applying a DNA taggant set to a first batch of the material produced by a first supplier of the material. The DNA taggant set corresponds to a tag string corresponding to the first supplier. The first batch is aggregated with a second batch to create an aggregated lot. A sample is selected from the aggregated lot and tested to determine a DNA taggant set of the sample. After selecting a sample from the aggregated lot, the sample may be labeled with a grade and then placed in a receptacle corresponding to the grade.
Core Innovation
The invention provides an on-product DNA barcode/taggant system and a method of tracking a material in a supply chain by using DNA taggant sets that correspond to a tag string for a supplier. An application device applies the DNA taggant set to a first batch produced by a first supplier, and the DNA taggant set corresponds to a tag string corresponding to the first supplier.
A securely recorded application location is used in combination with determining geographic coordinates of the geolocatable production location. A sample is selected from the first batch if the application location matches the geographic coordinate, and the sample is tested to determine a sampled DNA taggant set.
The DNA taggant sets can encode DNA barcode digits/bits via the presence/absence of multiple DNA snippets. Detected DNA pieces enable deriving a barcode and comparing the derived barcode to a predetermined barcode or an expected tag sequence based on tag records.
The system integrates delivery of tagged batches, verification of applied DNA taggant sets, and recording of actuation time and application location in a database. Field and lab validation are described, including DNA barcode stability in crude palm oil and refined palm oil and detection of purity/adulteration by reference-sample comparison and concentration analysis.
Claims Coverage
The document includes three independent claims: clm-00001, clm-00009, and clm-00016. Across these independent claims, the inventive features are centered on applying a DNA taggant set corresponding to a supplier tag string, geolocation and time verification with sampling and testing, and verifying expected versus applied tag sequences and barcode matches using DNA taggant encoding with N>1 digits.
Geolocatable production location recording and sample testing
Securely recording an application location at which an application device applies a DNA taggant set to a first batch, determining a geographic coordinate of the geolocatable production location, comparing the application location to the geographic coordinate, selecting a sample if the application location matches the geographic coordinate, and testing the sample to determine a sampled DNA taggant set.
Expected tag sequence comparison for a tagged batch
Providing an application device with issued DNA taggant set based on an estimated amount, applying an applied DNA taggant set to form a tagged batch, delivering the tagged batch, determining an expected tag sequence for the tagged batch based on tag records, sampling the tagged batch to identify the applied DNA taggant set, and comparing the expected tag sequence for the tagged batch to the applied DNA taggant set.
N-digit DNA taggant set issuing and barcode verification
Using a DNA taggant set comprising at least N unique pieces of DNA representing N digits of a barcode, issuing a sprayer containing the issued DNA taggant set with a corresponding issued barcode, applying the issued DNA taggant set to the product by actuating the sprayer while storing time and location of sprayer actuation in a database, verifying the location and time within defined constraints, delivering the product to a processing location with an applied DNA taggant set, and verifying that a corresponding barcode matching the applied DNA taggant set matches the issued barcode.
Collectively, the independent claims cover applying DNA taggant sets corresponding to tag records or supplier tag strings, using geolocatable production information and sprayer actuation records, sampling and testing to determine an applied DNA taggant set, and verifying through expected tag sequence or issued-versus-applied barcode matching, including DNA barcode encoding with N>1 digits.
Stated Advantages
Validate first-mile source assurance through application-location-based tracking and DNA taggant verification.
Validate DNA barcode stability in crude palm oil and refined palm oil.
Detect purity/adulteration by comparing samples to reference samples and using concentration analysis.
Documented Applications
Supply-chain tracking and grading after aggregation of multiple supplier batches of palm fruit, including grade placement of selected samples based on determined DNA taggant sets.
Validation of DNA barcode stability in crude palm oil and refined palm oil.
Purity/adulteration detection for palm oil by reference-sample comparison and concentration analysis.
Certification-related context described as including RSPO certification.
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